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Chris Rogers has swiftly become Australia’s second most important batsman after Michael Clarke. But at 36 years old, how many more Tests does he have left in him?
Australia will pray they can squeeze another two years of good cricket out of the opener.
Such is the dearth of alternatives at the top of the order they desperately need Rogers to hold firm for at least another 12-to-18 months.
Australia does not have a solid long-term opening option.
David Warner is inconsistent and ill-behaved. Shane Watson appears destined to finish his career lower in the order. Ed Cowan’s cards seemed to have been marked.
The most promising opener in the country, 21-year-old Tasmanian Jordan Silk, has played just five first-class matches and would benefit from another two Sheffield Shield seasons before being exposed at the next level.
In the meantime, Rogers can be a crucial component of the Aussie Test line-up.
The veteran had a nervous start to his Ashes career which culminated in two embarrassing dismissals during his side’s capitulation in the second Test at Lords.
After suffering the ignominy of missing a looping Graeme Swann full toss to be trapped LBW in the first dig, Rogers was then bowled without playing a shot by the off spinner in the second innings.
To that point of the series he had collected just 89 runs at an average of 22, prompting claims he was past his best as a cricketer and should not have been selected.
Lord’s proved to be the turning point for the tenacious left hander.
In the remaining three Tests, Rogers looked like the cricketer we had come to know at state and county level – compact, assured and positive.
He reaped 278 runs at 56 over those matches.
But very few Test batsmen maintain their standard beyond the age of 36.
Some of the greatest players of the modern era – Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Rahul Dravid – all had dwindling returns once they reached their mid-30s.
Rogers does not have anywhere near the same talent that trio possessed. One advantage he may have over them is hunger.
Granted, Ponting and Dravid remained passionate and dedicated to the very end of their Test careers, while the fact Tendulkar is still turning out for India aged 40 illustrates his enthusiasm for the game.
But by the time they reached their mid-30s each of them had been on the international circuit for a dozen years or longer and had achieved pretty much everything possible.
Rogers, contrastingly, is a revitalised cricketer having finally been given a proper crack at his dream more than 14 years after debuting at first-class level.
It was clear not just in the way he batted later in the series but in the manner in which he fielded throughout the Ashes that he was intent on exploiting the belated opportunity.
Regardless of how devoted a batsman may be they cannot withstand the passage of time.
In the end their fading reflexes cruel them. However, that is clearly not yet an issue for Rogers.
In fact, he comprehensively won his battle with England’s skilful pace attack, cracking them for 282 runs while being dismissed just three times.
It was Swann who was his tormentor. The wizardly tweaker dislodged Rogers six times while conceding only 78 runs to the Aussie.
Fortuitously for Rogers, Swann is unlikely to be anywhere near as incisive this summer on Australia’s unhelpful surfaces.
After the Ashes, Australia travel to South Africa where spin will play a peripheral role in proceedings.
Rogers is unlikely to look beyond the immediate challenge of once again tackling England’s strong bowling unit.
But the same cannot be said for the Australian selectors and fans, who are hoping the Victorian can play on for as long as feasible.